Marilyn Mower wins Lifetime Achievement Award at the Design & Innovation Awards 2025

Acclaimed journalist and yachting enthusiast Marilyn Mower has been named the recipient of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award at the BOAT Design & Innovation Awards 2025. The award was presented during a ceremony at the Superyacht Design Festival in Kitzbühel, Austria.

Mower’s passion for boating was sparked early, spending childhood summers cruising Lake Michigan aboard her father’s mahogany runabout. This passion deepened during her years at the University of South Florida, where she began racing competitively and crewing as a bowman. While working for a local newspaper in St. Petersburg, Florida, she was invited to cover Olympic class sailing regattas — an assignment that launched her career in marine journalism that now spans almost four decades.

In the 1980s, Mower moved to Miami, balancing her growing interest in boating with a role as managing editor of the American Welding Society’s trade publication, where she honed her understanding of construction techniques. Her technical knowledge and hands-on experience culminated in a transatlantic crossing on board a 13-metre sailing boat during the 1985 Admiral’s Cup.

Mower’s editorial journey took a defining turn in 1988 when she became a founding editor of ShowBoats International (now BOAT International US Edition), defying scepticism when the idea of a magazine dedicated solely to large yachts seemed unlikely to succeed. However, she pioneered the celebration of yacht design, launching the magazine’s Design Showcase section, which spotlighted designers and emerging trends. She also played a key role in founding the ShowBoats Awards in 1991, which later evolved into the BOAT Design & Innovation Awards, of which she now serves as a judge.

After a brief stint leading Southern Boating magazine in 2007, Mower returned to BOAT International Media in 2010 as books editor. In this role, she oversaw acclaimed publications like The Superyachts, Refit and The Megayachts, reshaping the latter to focus on cutting-edge design and construction. She also edited Futureyachts, Life Under Sail and many bespoke books for yacht owners and shipyards.

Among her many projects, Mower authored the book on the 1993 Feadship launch Double Haven. Owner Merle Hinrich had this to say: “Her holistic approach to understanding the yachting world encompasses designers, owners, shipyards and every nuance in between. She captures the very essence of what makes this industry extraordinary and communicates it with unmatched clarity and passion. Few individuals are as dedicated to celebrating, documenting, and sharing the spirit of yachting as she is. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on the industry."

Throughout her career, Mower has stepped on board countless yachts — including some of the world’s most iconic vessels — and interviewed the leading designers who shape the industry. Known for her fearless journalism, sharp technical insights and deep respect for the craft, she has been a mentor to aspiring yacht writers and earned widespread admiration from industry professionals and peers alike.